Klay Thompson did more than soft‑launch a romance with Megan Thee Stallion when he posted that now-infamous Instagram carousel on Sunday, July 13—he also quietly flexed a Rolex Yacht‑Master II that tells its own story.
GQ first noticed the watch, buried between beach-hand-holding shots, when the close-up of a yellow-gold case and bright sea-blue bezel signaled that the four-time NBA champ’s first true love might still be the water. Thompson, after all, famously piloted his boat to Warriors home games and even wears a captain’s hat in his Instagram profile pic.
Released in 2007 as the sequel to the original 1992 Yacht‑Master, the Yacht‑Master II upped the ante with one of the most complex movements Rolex has ever produced: a programmable regatta countdown with mechanical memory, purpose‑built for yacht racing. That tech cred sits inside a bold 44 mm case whose precious‑metal swagger looks just as at home on a Mediterranean super‑yacht as it does courtside in Dallas.
Thompson’s configuration—18‑karat yellow gold on an Oyster bracelet—was a staple of the line until Rolex discontinued the YM II in April 2024. Collectors expect a resurrection down the road (think Milgauss), but for now, the model is strictly a secondary‑market treasure.
That scarcity makes the All‑Star guard’s reported $35,000 buy feel like an outright bargain. Entry‑level Rolex sport watches such as the steel Submariner now list around $10,000, but routinely trade much higher, while gem‑set Daytonas and Day‑Dates can rocket well beyond $400,000.
In that context, a 44mm solid-gold chronograph loaded with proprietary technology, suitable for midsize luxury SUVs, looks like shrewd shopping, especially from a watch brand whose resale value is famously unshakeable.
Like the guard’s own game, the Rolex Yacht‑Master II saves its fireworks for the right moment—like a handheld stroll with a Grammy‑winning hip-hop superstar.
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